"Under the vigorous direction of guest conductor Virko Baley...[The Cleveland Chamber Symphony's] strings were put to their most severe test in Corigliano's Symphony No. 2...Baley gave intense emphasis to the score's kaleidoscopic dynamics and moments of free declamation, as well as to Corigliano's heart-on-sleeve outbursts."

"...one of the most empathetic conductors I've ever worked with. One immediately senses his understanding of the singer and the song."

"...a highly intelligent, multi-talented musician...a sensitive and technically proficient conductor, a brilliantly gifted pianist, and imaginative and original composer. He also writes about music with revealing perception and elegant use of language.

"...a terrific virtuoso, Virko Baley."

"...among the very few who understand...that a classic should be performed as if it were new, and a new work as though it were a classic. Virko Baley is ideally suited to the task."

"...tight ensemble playing under the leadership of Baley."

"The performance of Verdi's Overture to the opera 'La Forza del Destino'...could have brought the composer to his feet."

"Nevada is suddenly bursting with major achievements in modern music...The Contemporary Music Festival...is the handiwork of Virko Baley."

"What's this? A festival of contemporary music in that capital of commercialism, Las Vegas? True enough... the kind of occassion one might expect to encounter at the Claremont Festival...What happened was this...Virko Baley...joined the faculty at the Las Vegas campus."

"This has been a splendid season for the Las Vegas Symphony. Increased support from without and increased unity from within will assure for the organization a firm and brilliant future...Like Zorro, Music Director Virko Baley has struck again."

LAS VEGAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA REACHES MILESTONE. By far the most powerful and enjoyable performances and conducting by the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra in its developmental history."